The demand for German language has increased considerably in India, said German Ambassador Michael Steiner, adding that he is confident that the two countries will find a practical solution soon on the recent third language row.

"After the meeting of Mr Modi and Ms Merkel and also talks in India, I am confident that India will find a practical solution soon which is in accordance with its law and also allow preserving cultural identity and continue the successful German learning programme," Steiner said at the sidelines of a cultural programme at a private school in New Delhi.

The statement comes in the wake of the recent controversy after the Ministry of Human Resource Development decided to drop the German language in favour of Sanskrit for over 70,000 students across 500 Kendriya Vidyalayas or central Schools from classes VI to VIII.

HRD Minister Smrit Irani, according to news reports, has maintained that German cannot be taught in schools as a third language and this was in violation of the Constitution.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Kendriya Vidyalayas and Goethe Institute-Max Mueller Bhawan in 2011 to offer German as the third language. But, the Ministry has decided against renewing the MoU.

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